Photo: Hedingham Castle by Agnete, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
About this place
Hedingham Castle's Norman keep rises above the village of Castle Hedingham in Essex, built around 1140 for the de Vere family.
It stands within 160 acres of landscaped gardens and woodland, alongside a later Georgian mansion house on the same estate.
The keep is widely regarded as one of the best-preserved Norman keeps in England, with five floors of decorated stonework reached by a single steep staircase.
The property is part of the Historic Houses network, which gives members free admission.
Read more on WikipediaHistory
The castle's fortifications date from around 1100, with the great keep raised around 1140 for the de Vere family, who held the earldom of Oxford for several centuries. Most of the wider medieval castle has been lost, leaving the keep, minus two of its original turrets, as the sole major survival. The estate later passed by descent to the Lindsay family, who still live at Hedingham today.
Architecture
The keep is built in the Norman, or Romanesque, style and contains finely decorated stonework of its period, including a grand arched hall on the first floor. A separate Georgian mansion house stands elsewhere on the estate, reflecting later phases of the family's occupation.
Worth knowing
The de Vere family, who built the castle, held the earldom of Oxford for several centuries, one of the longest unbroken noble successions in English history. Their descendants, the Lindsay family, still live at Hedingham Castle.
Gardens & grounds
The estate's 160 acres take in landscaped gardens, lakes and woodland surrounding the Georgian mansion house.
Facilities
Plan your visit
Nearest station: Sudbury (Suffolk) Rail Station (6.4 miles)
Open to the public from Easter to October; check official website for specific dates and hours.
Nearby properties
Turners House
View Turners House on heritage mapHoly Trinity Church, Halstead
View Holy Trinity Church, Halstead on heritage mapHistoric places nearby
Within 5 miles of Hedingham Castle there are 3 historic properties, including 2 historic houses, across Historic Houses and Churches Conservation Trust sites.
Within 10 miles of Hedingham Castle there are 11 historic properties, including 6 historic houses, 3 churchs and 2 historic buildings, across Historic Houses, Churches Conservation Trust and National Trust sites.
Within 20 miles of Hedingham Castle there are 37 historic properties, including 15 historic buildings, 12 churchs and 9 historic houses, across Churches Conservation Trust, English Heritage and Historic Houses sites.
Facts
A 900-year-old Norman keep still surrounded by the descendants of the family who built it.
- Type
- historic house
- Location
- Essex, England
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